Universal modular apron adjuster

ABSTRACT

Present disclosure relates generally to design for a strap adjuster. More specifically, this invention relates to a modular strap adjuster designed to decrease pressure applied to a user&#39;s neck from a neck strap from an article of clothing, such as an apron, via a vertically aligned section of material releaseably attached to a neck strap and an anchor point located beneath a neck strap. Other improvements in the design of the strap adjuster are also included in this disclosure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

US201762725603

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

None

SEQUENCE LISTING

None

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION (FOI)

This present disclosure relates generally a functional clothing accessory. More specifically, this invention relates to a modular releasably attached strap designed to decrease pressure applied to a user's neck from a neck strap from an article of clothing, such as an apron, via a vertically aligned section of material releaseably attached to a neck strap and an anchor point located beneath a neck strap. Other improvements in the design of the strap adjuster are also included in this disclosure.

BACKGROUND

Various types of clothing involve a thin section of fabric or other material that circumnavigates the neck. When such clothing is of a material of sufficient weight, it applies downward pressure onto the back of a user's neck. Further, during daily tasks, the clothing can be pulled downward exacerbating such discomfort. This pressure applied over long periods of time can cause significant discomfort.

Some devices avoid this problem by eliminating neck straps. For example, Walters U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,239 discloses a weight support harness whereby two straps extend across the back shoulders and join in the front whereby an instrument is affixed via an attachment mechanism. However, many types of clothing, most predominately aprons, continue to use a neck strap to permit such articles of clothing to be easily removeable. While some aprons avoid the use of a neck strap, such as the apron disclosed in Mitchell U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,725, via wide shoulder panels to distribute weight over the length of the shoulders, predominate designs for aprons continue to include thin neck straps. Those skilled in the art appreciate the difficulties and discomfort of wearing a heavy kitchen apron over long hours with the amount of pressure applied to the neck strap and ultimately the user's neck. Therefor the prior art discloses a need for a device to relieve such discomfort while retaining the releasable function of commonly used aprons.

Other apparatus that include a neck strap focus on increasing the comfort of the neck strap via additional padding. For example, Chang U.S. Pat. No. 9,038,872 discloses a carrying strap for an object that runs around a user's neck with an attachment clip for an object that includes additional padding and an inflatable insert. However, such modifications are difficult and expensive to apply to standardized aprons. The present invention improves on this prior art by enabling a universal and modular application to a wide variety of aprons and other clothing articles. Additionally, the redistribution of the weight from the neck strap to the lower anchor point more effectively relieves the pain and discomfort associated with neck straps as opposed to merely increased padding.

The present invention has many other advantages over the prior art. Because aprons are commonly mass produced, individual organizations have little opportunity to display the corporate logo directly on an apron. The present invention is easily configured to display an image, text, or other logo. Further, individuals can customize the present invention with their own personal decoration, increasing its personal utility in often sterile environments such as a restaurant kitchen.

It can be seen, therefore, that there is a device needed to increase the comfort of a wide range of aprons and other clothing articles with neck straps via a modular and universal application with a simple, cost effective design.

SUMMARY

This present disclosure has overcome the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art by increasing the comfort of a wide range of aprons and other clothing articles with neck straps via a modular and universal application with a simple, cost effective design.

This present disclosure includes a section of fabric and an attachment mechanism. These integrated pieces are designed to efficiently redistribute pressure applied to a user's neck via a neck strap by anchoring the neck strap to an anchor point located beneath a neck strap.

A section of fabric is comprised of a solid flexible material, such as, but not limited to, cotton, nylon, polyester, or other fabric or other suitable material or combination of materials, commonly known in the art designed. A variety of colors and types of fabric can be used in its construction to enable an aesthetically pleasing and varied appearance, increasing the utility for a user. The section of fabric, in one embodiment, is comprised of a rectangularly shaped portion of material configured to extend generally the length of a user's back. In one embodiment, the rectangular shaped portion of material is adjustable in length via an adjustable slide buckle or other method commonly known in the art. On the proximal and distal end of the section of fabric, an attachment mechanism is affixed permanently affixed to the section of fabric. The outward facing surface of the section of material can be configured to receive removeable or permanently ornamental or identifying marks, images, and logos. In one embodiment, the section of fabric will contain a plurality of apertures configured to receive a thread to permit the attachment of a user selected ornamental section of fabric. In another embodiment, the outward facing surface of the section of fabric will have a Velcro attachment receiving end sew into the fabric along with a separate section of fabric with an inward facing surface comprised of Velcro and an outward facing surface ornamentally customizable to a user's preference.

An attachment mechanism, commonly known in the art, is designed to support the tension created between a neck strap and an anchor point. In one embodiment, both ends of fabric will have a Velcro attachment on the furthest ends of the section of fabric. A second section of Velcro will be permanently attached approximately six inches from either end of the section of fabric. A user will then encircle the proximal end of the section of fabric around a neck strap, and place both sections of Velcro together securing both sections of Velcro together. The process is repeated for the anchor point, with the distal end of the section of fabric wrapping around the anchor point. In another embodiment, the attachment means can be a buckle with apertures configured to receive the buckle rod dispersed along the length of the section of fabric. In yet another embodiment, the section of fabric can be configured with a series of snap fasteners. These attachment means are meant to be illustrative and can be applied via a variety of designs and methods commonly known in the art.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and disclosure drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the present tion will hereinafter be described in conjunction with appended drawings, provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention. Drawings included in this Provisional Patent Application are illustrative of the present disclosure, method, and designs but said drawings will be amended in the anticipated Non-Provisional Application. The Figure descriptions below illustrate the drawing intent and objective but do not relate specifically to any current drawing or embodiment of the present inventionand the inventor reserves the right to update, modify, amend or revoke any of the depicted drawings in anticipation of a Non-Provisional Patent Application.

FIG. 1 depicts a frontal view of the apron adjuster in its open and closed position.

FIG. 2 depicts a frontal view of a user attaching the apron adjuster to a neck strap.

FIG. 3 depicts a rear view of a user with the apron adjuster attached to a neck strap and an anchor point.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

This present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and figures, in which like reference numerals are used to indicate identical or functionally similar elements. References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, that every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

The following examples are illustrative, but not limiting, of the present invention. Other suitable modifications and adaptations of the variety of conditions and parameters normally encountered in the field, and which would be apparent to those skilled in the art, are within the spirit and scope of the invention.

It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings with like reference characters.

This present disclosure includes a section of fabric (1) and an attachment mechanism (2). These integrated pieces are designed to efficiently redistribute pressure applied to a user's neck via a neck strap by anchoring the neck strap to an anchor point located beneath a neck strap.

Referring to FIG. 1, a section of fabric (1) is comprised of a solid flexible material, such as, but not limited to, cotton, nylon, polyester, or other fabric or other suitable material or combination of materials, commonly known in the art designed. A variety of colors and types of fabric can be used in its construction to enable an aesthetically pleasing and varied appearance, increasing the utility for a user. The section of fabric, in one embodiment, is comprised of a rectangularly shaped portion of material (3) configured to extend generally the length of a user's back. In one embodiment, the rectangular shaped portion of material is adjustable in length via an adjustable slide buckle or other method commonly known in the art. On the proximal and distal end of the section of fabric (1), an attachment mechanism (2) is affixed permanently affixed to the section of fabric (1). The outward facing surface of the section of material can be configured to receive removeable or permanently ornamental or identifying marks, images, and logos. In one embodiment, the section of fabric will contain a plurality of apertures configured to receive a thread to permit the attachment of a user selected ornamental section of fabric. In another embodiment, the outward facing surface of the section of fabric will have an attachment receiving end sew into the fabric along with a separate section of fabric with an inward facing surface comprised of Velcro, or similar attachment mechanism (2) and an outward facing surface ornamentally customizable to a user's preference.

Continuing reference to FIG. 1, an attachment mechanism, commonly known in the art, is designed to support the tension created between a neck strap and an anchor point. In one embodiment, both ends of fabric will have a Velcro attachment on the furthest ends of the section of fabric. A second section of Velcro will be permanently attached approximately six inches from either end of the section of fabric. A user will then encircle the proximal end of the section of fabric around a neck strap, and place both sections of Velcro together securing both sections of Velcro together. The process is repeated for the anchor point, with the distal end of the section of fabric wrapping around the anchor point. In another embodiment, the attachment means can be a buckle with apertures configured to receive the buckle rod dispersed along the length of the section of fabric. In yet another embodiment, the section of fabric can be configured with a series of snap fasteners. These attachment means are meant to be illustrative and can be applied via a variety of designs and methods commonly known in the art.

Referencing FIG. 2, a user encircles a neck strap (4) with the proximal portion of the section of fabric. The attachment means on the proximal portion is manually actuated once the neck strap has been encircled.

Referencing FIG. 3, a user then slides the proximal portion of the section of fabric to the rear of the user. A user encircles an anchor point with the distal portion of the section of fabric. The attachment means on the distal portion is manually actuated once the anchor point is encircled. Once fastened to the anchor point, the tension from the neck strap is distributed downward, increasing the comfort of the user. 

I claim:
 1. An apron adjuster comprising, Section of fabric approximately three inches in width and variable length and, An attachment means at top or proximal and bottom or distal ends of a section of fabric, with, At least a six inch of fabric between the attachment means at a distal end of a section of fabric. 